Choi Soon-sil

Choi Soon-sil (born June 23, 1956) is the prime person of interest in a 2016 South Korean political scandal involving her influence over the 18th President of South Korea Park Geun-hye.

Choi is the daughter of a South Korean Shamanistic-Evangelical cult leader, Choi Tae-min. Her ex-husband is President Park's former chief of staff Chung Yoon-hoi and dressage athlete Chung Yoo-ra is their daughter.

The scandal involves allegations that she was responsible for masterminding governmental policy and decision making during Park's administration. Prosecutors have raided offices and homes linked to Choi. Park's secretaries have been ordered to resign following the scandal. She may have ordered Korean prosecutors to indict a Japanese journalist, Tatsuya Kato (Seoul Bureau chief of Sankei Shimbun), for defamation for reporting that President Park and Chung Yoon-hoi, had a secret seven-hour meeting with Choi after the sinking of MV Sewol.

As of October 30, Choi Soon-sil has returned to South Korea and is facing prosecution. On October 31, she met with prosecutors, telling reporters “Please, forgive me. I’m sorry. I committed a sin that deserves death”.

As of November 20, Choi Soon-sil was officially charged by the prosecutors for intervening with state affairs and forcing chaebols to donate tens of millions of dollars to foundations and businesses she had control over.